Brussels, Nov 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) The European Commission on Wednesday presented accession roadmaps for Ukraine and three other leading European Union (EU) membership candidates, urging Kyiv to accelerate reforms to meet its goal of concluding negotiations by the end of 2028.
Adopting its annual enlargement package, the EU executive outlined milestones for Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine, while stressing that progress toward membership depends on reforms, Xinhua news agency reported.
Ukraine has opened four groups of negotiating chapters over the past year and meets the conditions to open all remaining groups, the Commission said.
"It called on Ukraine to focus on rule-of-law benchmarks, democratic institutions, public administration reform and an action plan on national minorities. Specialised anti-corruption institutions continued to operate "overall independently and effectively," it said.
Montenegro is closest to completing talks, having provisionally closed 21 negotiating chapters. It could close the remaining chapters by the end of this year, with work on its accession treaty already underway.
Albania aims to conclude negotiations in 2027, while Moldova is targeting early 2028. The Commission said both goals depend on sustained reforms.
The Commission also proposed a common framework for integrating candidates into sectors including energy, transport, digital and defence before membership, with related dialogues to begin over the next six months.
Meanwhile, the US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine of 500 Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors and related equipment, at an estimated cost of $2.1 billion, with the purchase to be paid for by allies rather than Washington.
The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs announced the approval on Friday and said it had notified Congress.
"The US Department of State has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to the Ukrainian government for purchase of PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles. and related equipment. The estimated total cost is $2.1 billion funded entirely by partners and allies," the department said.
According to the notification, Ukraine requested "five hundred (500) PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles".
The package also includes "PAC-3 MSE classified and unclassified spare parts; and other related elements of logistics and program support", which the department listed as non-major defence equipment.
Source: IANS
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